Ladder.



O. SIEGEL.

LADDER.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 18, 1911.

Patented NOV. 11, 1913.

OTTO SIEGEL, 0F SOHLAWE, GER-MANY,

LADDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Applicationfiled'liecember 18, 1611. Serial No. 668 480.

To ail whom it may] concern Be it known that I, OTTO Srnenn, architect, citizen of the German Empire, residing at tichlawe, Pommern, Germany, have in v'eirted certain new and useful" Improve ments in Ladders; and: I do declare the: following to be a full, clear, and exact desc'ription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in ladders, and more particularly to ladders in which the steps are securedto a single pole though various parts of the invention may equally housed in ladders in which the steps are secured between pieces.

As embodied in a ladder of the single pole type the object of the invention is to provide a ladder of simple construction which has a reliable hold on the ground, and which can conveniently be climbed. And with this object in view my invention consists in providing the foot of the ladder by splitting and straddling the pole at its lower pairs of side portion only, and securing the lowermost step or steps between the straddled portion, while the upper steps project in the usual way from the pole to bothsides. Thereby the operator has on the lowermost step or steps a foot hold between the straddled branches of the pole, while on the upper portion he has a foot hold of uniform breadth on the outside of the pole.

An important feature of my invention re lates to a construction whereby a plurality of my improved ladders can be used as a combination ladder. For picking fruit single pole ladders are preferable as compared to ladders with two side pieces, because by reason of their low weight they can easily be transported and do not weigh as heavily on the boughs of the tree as ladders which consist of two side pieces, and because the baskets can conveniently be hung on the projecting steps. To permit several persons to pick fruits at the same parts of a tree but at differentheights the ladders must have diiferent lengths. Where the boughs are so weak that the ladder can not be laid against the boughs step ladders are required.

An important feature of my invention relates to means for connecting two ladders so as to provide a step ladder, which means are constructed in such a way, that the step iar position of the ladders branches of three d i ti erent lengths can be obtained.

With this and other objects in view my invention consists of the matters to be described hereinafter and particularly pointed outthe appended claim, reference being i hadto'the accompanying drawlngs, 111 whlch the same numerals of reference have been used in all the views to indicate corresponding parts.

In said drawings Figures 1 and 2 are detail views showing on an enlarged scale the joint sections provided 011 the ladders, and Fig. 3, is a perspective view of a step ladder composed of two ladders of different lengths.

Referring to the example illustrated in the drawings, each sectional ladder consists of a pole 1 the lower end of which is split and straddled apart to form a broad foot. Where the ladders are designed for use in picking fruit the poles are made of difierent lengths. For practical purposes lengths of 12, 15, and 18 feet will be suitable, and the straddled lower branches of the pole are at their outer ends about three feet apart. Where the branches 2 meet an iron ring 3 is laid around the pole. The lowermost steps 4 are secured between the branches 2, while the remaining steps extendthrough the branches and through the pole respectively. Preferably the projecting ends of the steps are curved upward and outward. At its upper end the pole extends about 2% feet above the uppermost step. The top of the pole is formed with a semi-circular groove in which a sleeve 7 is embedded. As shown the sleeve is made integral with a ring 8 surrounding the top of the pole. l/Vithin the sleeve a pivot bolt 9 is located which at its upper end is formed with a hinge knuckle 1O projecting above the top of the pole. At a suitable distance, say two or three feet below the top, the pole is formed with a second groove 11 which at its lower end is covered by a plate 12 which is made integral with a sleeve 13 embedded within the groove 11. Within the said sleeve Patented Nov. 11,1913.

there is a pivot bolt 14: which at its upper end is formed with a bifurcated hinge knuckle 15 projecting forward and out of the groove 11. 7

When using a single ladder of the construction described the person will find on the lowermost step a reliable foot hold between the branches 2, while on the upper branches he finds a broad foot hold on the projecting ends of the steps.

If it is desired to combine two ladders of different lengths into a step ladder they are connected with each other either with the upper hinge knuckle 10 of the shorter ladder in engagement with the bifurcated hinge knuckle 15 of the longer ladder, or with the upper hinge knuckles 10 of both ladders in engagement with each other. In both cases the hinge knuckles are jointed by a pin or screw bolt 16.

By reason of the universal joint provided by the pivot bolts 9 and 14: and the hinge knuckles 10 and 15 and their pins 16 the ladders are freely movable relatively to each other, so that the step ladder can be used on uneven ground, as is shown in Fig. 6.

The ladder combines a minimum of weight with a maximum of strength, and it can be manufactured at low cost.

I claim herein as'my invention:

A combination ladder comprising a plurality of ladders, each of said ladders having revoluble hinge knuckles, one at its top and one at a part intermediate its ends, and means to pivotally connect the hinge knuckle at the top of one of said ladders with either one of the hinge knuckles of another ladder.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

7 OTTO SIEGEL. lVitnesses:

HENRY HASPER,

VVOLDEMAR HAUPT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of I atents,

Washington, D. G. 

